A rendering of Amazon's new spherical greenhouses in Seattle, designed by NBBJ.
NBBJ

Office ping-pong tables and beanbag chairs are nice, but massive spherical treehouses are even cooler.

As reported by The New York Times, Amazon is building three plant-filled orbs — which all connect to form one giant structure — for its workers in Seattle, Washington.

Designed by architecture firm NBBJ, the treehouse will allow employees to work and hang out amidst 20,000 plants.

Tech Insider got a look at the construction. Take a look.

Set to open in 2018, Amazon's treehouse will sit in downtown Seattle.

NBBJ

The tech company already owns 30 office buildings around the city. Amazon is also constructing new high-rise and low-rise office buildings around the spheres.

NBBJ

A construction crew is building the three glass spheres (the largest measuring 90 feet tall) that will connect to form one giant space.

NBBJ

Featuring an open layout, there will be five different levels that can accommodate about 800 people in total.

NBBJ

The pentagonal pattern, called a Catalan, will repeat 60 times per sphere, Sam Kennedy, a spokesperson for Amazon, tells Tech Insider.

NBBJ

As part of a partnership with the University of Washington, Amazon is growing over 3,000 species of plants in a greenhouse that's a half-hour drive from its Seattle headquarters. The plants will later be transplanted to the spheres. In total, the downtown greenhouses will have 20,000 specimens representing 400 species from over 50 countries.

NBBJ

Amazon first approached the idea of putting the spheres at its headquarters in 2013. The company hired Ron Gagliardo, who now serves as the company's horticulturist, to grow everything and oversee the off-site greenhouse.

NBBJ

The idea behind the spheres is to increase productivity and happiness among Amazon employees, Kennedy says.

NBBJ

Seattle doesn't have much green space in its city center, and the company is betting that the orbs will help lower stress levels.

NBBJ

The orbs will feature tree canopies three stories off the ground, a five-story living wall, a creek, and waterfall. Meeting rooms will have walls made from vines.